by Kyle HoskinGarbageman, CUPE Local 1287 What a meeting! This past Friday in Niagara, the Ontario Federation of Labour met with the community and labour to discuss how we plan to rally against Doug Ford’s Regressive Conservatives convention on February 21-22 at the Scotiabank Centre in Niagara Falls. The room had 46 participants with a Continue readingNiagara prepares for Feb.22 Ontario PC convention
Ford
Today, Oct. 17, at 14:45, a group of 40 activists gathered in front of Ontario Premier Ford’s office in Etobicoke. By the time they had arrived, ten people had already entered Ford’s office to occupy it. They were there to demand that the government take responsibility for the five deaths at Fiera Foods, one of Continue readingOccupy Ford: No more workplace deaths
On Sunday night hours from a strike deadline, CUPE representing 55,000 Ontario education workers, announced they achieved restored services for students and a fair contract for workers. For months, the government has been playing hardball with workers, students and parents in the education system. But workers, students and parents are fighting back. CUPE’s incredible win Continue readingWalk-in to Fight Ford’s Education Cuts
By Evan Johnston On June 5, the Ontario government introduced Bill 124, the Protecting a Sustainable Public Sector for Future Generations Act, 2019. Peter Bethlenfalvy, current Treasury Board President and former Wall Street executive, claims that the bill “allow[s] for reasonable wage increases, while protecting the province’s front-line services, restoring the province’s financial position and Continue readingFour things you should know about Bill 124
Tiffany Balducci President, Durham Region Labour Council It started off like many of our recent protests and pickets have: local groups of unions, parents of autistic children, students, community members, everyday people coming together to voice our concerns and opposition to the Ford agenda and government cuts. We found out Finance Minister Vic Fedeli would Continue reading“Keep going”: Tory MPP tries to drive through pickets
By David Bush The political ground in Ontario is shifting. On April 4, 150,000 high school students from 700 schools across the province walked out of class in protest of the Tory government’s proposed cuts to education. Just two days later, over 30,000 teachers, education workers, and allies rallied at Queen’s Park against the cuts. Continue readingHow is labour going to fight Ford?
By Simran Dhunna, Vidhya Elango and Talia Holy Only a few months ago, Premier Doug Ford’s Bill 47 repealed many of the labour protections won through advocacy by decent work coalitions across Ontario — including the Fight for $15 and Fairness campaign. Workers lost two paid sick days; pay equity between full-time, part-time, and temporary Continue readingFord continues to attack workers with Bill 66
By Jesse McLaren Bill 47 is a major attack on workers across Ontario. It freezes the minimum wage for 33 months (amounting to a pay cut), eliminates two paid sick days and reduces the number of unpaid sick days from a possible 8 to 3, it revokes equal pay for part-time, contract and temp workers, Continue readingThe Fight for $15 and Fairness after Bill 47
By Peter Hogarth On October 15, actions across the province mobilized to defend $15 and Fairness for Ontario workers. Doug Ford’s Conservative government has suggested they will roll back the gains made last year in Bill 148. A $15 minimum wage, equal pay for equal work, an end to on-call scheduling, and 10 personal emergency Continue readingDay of action tells Ford: Hands off $15
By Willy Noiles The recently announced cut in WSIB employer premium rates by almost 30 percent is a good indication that in the eyes of the Doug Ford government injured workers aren’t part of “the people” they claim to govern for. In what was Labour Minister Laurie Scott’s first major announcement since being appointed to Continue readingFord’s WSIB: Premium cuts for employers, austerity for injured workers
By Chris Grawey The minimum wage is scheduled to increase from $14/hr to $15/hr on January 1, 2019 for approximately 1.7 million workers in Ontario. Progressive Conservative (PC) leader and Premier Doug Ford announced in the during the PC leadership campaign that he would cancel the scheduled increase and freeze the rate at $14/hr. A Continue readingFord reading from Harris’ playbook
By Jesse McLaren The situation looks dire. On Sept 7 the Chamber of Commerce called the immediate repeal of all of 148. On Sept 14 the Labour Minister promised to stop $15/hr min wage. Any day the government will move to revoke Bill 148, and with a majority government who can stop them? There are Continue readingFord takes on $15 and Fairness